RESUMO
Cervical cancer is the second female cancer. Currently, pap smears represent the most effective tool for screening of neoplastic cervical lesions and their precursors. The objective of this study is to deal with epidemiology, cytology and histology of all cervical lesions and to evaluate pap smears reliability in cervical cancer screening. Our study included 8827 pap smears collected during three years [2003-2005]. Results of pap smears were reported according to the 2001 Bethesda system. A comparative cytohistologic study was performed in 342 cases. For statistical analysis, we used Chi 2 test and considered differences as significant for a p value less than 0,05. The mean age of our patients was 41 years. Pap smears were normal in 269 cases [3,1%], inflammatory in 8070 cases [9]4%] and showed epithclial cell defects in 46 cases [0,5%]. A cytohistologic accord was found in 944%of cases. Pap smear was more sensitive in detecting high grade squamous lesions [50 to 100%] than those of low grade [33,3 to 66,6%]. Pap smear is the most useful tool for screening of preneoplastic cervical lesions which tend to be mole and more a pathology of young females. Its sensibility and specificity are better in detecting high grade intraepithelial lesions